We Come Alive 3

Addict

It had been 55 minutes since football practice ended.
It had been 40 minutes since the eight best friends left to go get something to eat and spend time together.
It had been 30 minutes since Ethan collapsed from an overdose and was driven to the hospital.

Now the seven friends were sitting in a waiting room while Ethan's family were in the room with Ethan and the doctors. Jose sniffled as he kept his eyes on one of the tv on the walls of the waiting room. They could all listen as the news reporter spoke about the accident they all knew too well.

"And this just in, local teenager has just overdosed in front of a local Burger King. Not many details are being disclosed right now, but some are saying this could be from a long term drug addiction. We will have further details when they are out."

"He's not an addict." Diego huffed.

"Yeah he was." Ricky spoke. "And we all know it."

"Ricky..." Clover whispered, looking over to him as he was sat down in the chair to her left. "Don't say that."

"What?" Ricky scoffed. "Don't say the truth? He overdosed. You don't overdose if you don't take drugs." He stood up and straightened out his clothes as he did. "The dumbass is hooked on drugs. He's a drug addict. Yeah, maybe it sounds extreme or crazy, but the signs were there. He had erratic behavior and he was always getting sick out of nowhere. He was having drug withdrawal! Ethan's a drug addict and if y'all don't want to admit it, then don't. But it's the damn truth and you know it."

None of them said anything as Ricky stormed out of the waiting room and eventually outside. Clover sighed and went running after him so he didn't do anything in his fit of anger.

"I'm going back there." Jose spoke, standing to his feet and walking off down the hallway that lead to the rooms. Diego quickly jumped up and went after him.

"Jose!" He whisper yelled at him. "Get back here! You can't go back there! We're not allowed!"

Jose just shrugged. "Try and stop me. I wanna see him." He looked into every room window trying to find his Spanish friend while Diego yelled at him to stop in a hushed voice.

When Jose turned the corner, Diego went running after him and went to pull him back, but they both stopped when they saw Ariana sitting on the floor crying outside a room.

"Ariana." Jose called out.

Ariana's head shot up and she quickly ran over to him with tears streaming down her cheeks. She latched onto his waist as she cried into his rib cage from their height difference.

Jose kneeled down and hugged her as he tried to console her. "Is he alright? What happened?"

Ariana could barely breathe between her sobs, so Jose knew there was no chance that she would be able to speak and tell him anything. When he looked up, he saw Diego looking into the window on the door into the room that Ethan was in. All color had drained from his face and he had a blank stare on his face.

Jose stood up and walked with Ariana over to the door. Diego tried to stop Jose, but Jose shoved Diego away from him. When Jose looked into the room, his breath hitched in his throat as he saw his best friend.

Ethan was laying in the bed while his aunt and uncle spoke to the doctors. He was awake, but he wasn't moving other than his chest moving up and down and his eyes blinking every once in a while. There were IV's in his arms giving him fluids and medication to help him heal from his overdose. There were tubes attached to his body. One on his chest recording his heart beat; one on his finger recording his pulse; and a ventilator mask that was helping him breathe steady breaths. In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out.